Golden Gate selections for Sunday January 26, 2020 by Taylor Owens
Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1: Maiden Claiming $8,000 for Fillies 3yo. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-3-6-1
4. Fantasy Golf Gal – This filly does a lot of her running late in the race, but I don’t think this race will set up for a closer this time. The good thing is she doesn’t really need speed in the race to run well. She is coming back after ten days, a quick turn around which is unusual, but that tells me she perhaps came out of her race well and didn’t utilize what she had last time. The individual stats of her trainer and jockey are both really good as well.
3. Musketier Waltz – She’s back to the 1 mile distance that saw her get third two starts back. While this may excite some bettors, I don’t think she showed a lot of action in her three races, including that on-the-board finish. I do like her trainer though and that she’s returning to a mile so I’m willing to play her here.
6. Understated Beauty – I couldn’t bring myself to bring this potential-favorite on top. She’s stretching out to a mile, which after her last start I can’t see that she wants more distance. At the same time, she ran with blinkers for the first time for that start, and will run without them this time. I’m still not confident she wants to go a mile at this time but I think she can be good and could hang on to show.
Race 2: Claiming $8-7,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-5
6. Ixtapa’s Finest – This filly is about as consistent as they come and likes it here at Golden Gate and its surface. She has a lot of speed compared to this field, which should help her with her outside position. She ran better than her odds last out and should continue to improve here.
2. Vacaville Special – I really like the bullet 4 furlong workout before this start, which should definitely sharpen her. This also proves to be a different move than the work that she had on DEC 29, which saw her get 7th in her last start. She typically does her running late and there’s enough speed in this race that should help her out, but she has a habit of being too late to the wire so I don’t feel good about putting her on top.
5. Sierra Sunrise – This fairly consistent filly is almost always game in her races and I think it’d be a mistake not to play her to show because she should be a factor. I don’t like her last race in which she saved ground on the rail and lost by almost three lengths, but I’m willing to excuse that start in that she simply got beat by better horses, most of which she won’t face today.
Race 3: Maiden Claiming $5,000 for 4yo & up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 7-4-1
7. Glenroy – Still waiting to break his maiden, this might be where he finally graduates! This horse has just barely been bested by some next-out winners in the past and has always been game. I am not a fan of the outside post position for Glenroy, but I don’t think he’ll run into too much traffic in this race and should stay out of trouble.
4. Hold Me Close – Another horse that is typically near the action at the wire, I have a hard time putting a horse on top that is going for its 17th try. With that said, I’m putting him to place, and he was very game in his first attempt going a mile that I would like to see what he can do with another crack at it. Breaking from post position four, I don’t expect to see him on or near the early lead but should factor later in the race.
1. Include Eddy – This tough little horse has not been getting the best of trips I think that he’ll make the best of this inside position and get clear of the others early. Hernandez will be aboard again.
Race 4: Claiming $8,000 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 6-4-2
6. Looks Good N a Tux – This horse has had a lot of 5 furlong, which I like to see when a horse is going a little longer. The horse also has a pretty good trainer and jockey, and together this team has had a pretty good win rate. I like this horse a lot and I don’t expect the outside draw to hinder his chances, given that he should have plenty of time before that turn to get where he needs to be.
4. Pioneerofthestorm – Another horse with a good trainer and jockey, he’s been pretty consistent at Golden Gate but as of recent hasn’t found his best stride. Hopefully with Hernandez aboard, and a quick 4 furlong work on JAN 18, he’ll be sharp and ready for this start. He has flashed some early speed in the past, which I expect will keep him out of trouble early and put him on the lead.
2. Sooner Better – This horse had a pretty inspiring run last out that saw him run 4 wide before being placed first via disqualification. It looks like this horse is peaking right about now. Also, I’m interested that Desormeaux will be aboard for its race and that speaks to me that there must be some confidence in the horse.
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight $30,000. 3yo. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 3-6
3. Mylittlerunaway – Having run in filly-restricted races for her first four starts, this filly is stepping out to go against the boys. She’s been very professional in her starts and is improving, and I think she’ll be better than okay with the extra sixteenth-I think she’ll love it. One thing I’m not crazy about is the jockey aboard and her trainer, but there’s a lot to like about the filly herself.
6. A. P. Pharoah – Is back and looks to be bet down heavily for yet another start. I really like his abilities but he doesn’t appear to be improving as quickly as Mylittlerunaway so I am only putting him to place.
Race 6: Claiming $12,500 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 5-3-4
5. Buttie – After bumping up to the 12500 ranks and winning she will stay at this level. I like this, that she appears to be improving and is taking her time moving up. This is another good trainer and jockey combo here and I think the mare was rightfully placed. She’ll be tough.
3. Please Do – She’s been working strictly 5 furlongs, including a bullet on JAN9. I think she’s been very good in her starts, including a tight finish two starts back where she ran seventh. I don’t know how much relief she’ll actually find here for the drop so I’m not exactly factoring that too much into this particular pick.
4. Smiling Ann – I really like the speed figures she earned from her last two starts. Being that there isn’t a lot of real speed in this race I predict she’ll be in the mix early and soft early fractions will be set.
Race 7: Claiming $3,200 for 4yo & up Which Have Not Won Two Races In A Year. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 8-5-7-2
8. Zippy Groom – This is a horse that tries in his races and has appeared to be improving. The outside is a little worrisome, but he has run some wide trips that saw him to the winners circle. Having one of the best jockeys in this race will only help this horse who is 6-1 morning line.
5. Tuscan Warrior – By looking at the record it doesn’t look like he’s a big fan of Golden Gate, but that has changed here recently and he has finished in the top three in his last three starts here since arriving from Emerald Downs. A few quick works since his last race in December and he should be sharp today.
7. Gallant Heat – I put him to show because he’s lost to several others in this race already. While that’s not an end-all-be-all he has also displaced some poor performances in his last three starts. I can make a case for him to show, however, in that if he gets a better trip, he has displayed some early speed that may get him the position he needs to factor in this race.
Race 8: Claiming $20,000 for 4yo & up Which Have Not Won Two Races. 5 ½ furlongs. Picks: 3-7-5-2
3. Saddle Bar – While I almost never take a horse that hasn’t had a work over the surface, Saddle Bar has been training over the training track at Santa Anita, where he shipped from, and that gives me a little confidence that he’ll handle the surface here. Those were good works he was running, and Desormeaux will get the mount. As mentioned a few races back it’s interesting to see what he’ll do on these mounts so I’ll definitely be including them in my wagers.
7. Ruxin – This horse is coming off a layoff and returns to the level he was at before that allowance attempt. He could be a completely different horse, but his solid body of work suggests otherwise. If he’s not bet down like crazy at post I think I’d like to play him and try and get some value.
5. Argosy Fleet – He threw a clunker last out, which I’m willing to scratch that start, and he’s been fairly consistent at Golden Gate. I put him above Country Road because as a whole I think he’s tougher and more consistent than that 2 horse.
Race 9: Claiming $4,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-3-5
2. Live It Well – Cutting back to sprints after four route attempts, this filly is also experiencing a big class drop. Hernandez will stay aboard for trainer Tamayo; along with a good post, this filly should has everything going for her in this race.
3. Waverly Way – I think she deserves a little more attention than she may receive. She doesn’t appear on paper to be a huge fan of Golden Gate and the surface, but she is also coming back for her second start off the turf and is cutting back in distance. Along with one of the leading riders on her back, she could step up and hit the board in this race against this field.
5. Circulodeganadoras – She is one of two horses in this field that has really displayed any sort of early speed. She’s been a the bottom ranks so you can dismiss her and say there’s better horses here, but her best starts as of late were both with Gomez. Something tells me she responds well ot this rider and this could make her dangerous.